Air compressor attachment and brake for forging machines



Dec. 27,1938. w w 2,141951 AIR COMPRESSOR ATTACHMENT AND BRAKE FORFORGING MACHINES Filed July 16, 1936 5 Sheets-sheaf, l

- INVENTOR. Mal/1M W am ATTORNEY.

Dec. 27-, 1938. v w, w. cRlLEY 2,141,951

AIR COMPRESSOR ATTACHMENT AND BRAKE FOR FORGING MACHINES Filed July 16,1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lg 3 INVENTOR.

W/Lz /A/1 W CR/Lf):

, r 1 f if ATTORNEY.

-w. w. CRILEY 2,141,951

AIR COMPRESSOR ATTACHMENT AND BRAKE FOR FORGING MACHINES Dec. 27, 1938.

Filed July 16, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 EV UWO Y B v mm Dec. 27, 1938. w. RY 2,141,951

AIR COMPRESSOR ATTACHMENT AND'BRAKE FOR FORGING MACHINES Filed July 16,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 27, 1938. w.'w. CRILEY AIR COMPRESSOR ATTACHMENT AND BRAKE FORFORGING MACHINES Filed-July 16, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fig. 6

- INVENTOR. W/LL/AM W 67min Xi ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE AIR COlVIPRESSORATTACHMENT AND BRAKE FOR FORGING MACHINES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in forging machines and the likeof the intermittent drive and brake stop type, and particularly to meansfor reducing the stresses and wear ordinarily occasioned on the brake instopping the heavy moving parts, and the effective utilization ofkinetic energy of the moving parts which has heretofore not only beenwasted but has contributed to wear of parts of the machine.

In machines of this character, the die carrying ram or slide iscustomarily driven by a crank shaft which, in turn, is driven by largeand heavy intermittently operated rotary driving mechanism. The rotarymechanism, in turn, is driven by a continuously rotating flywheel orinertia member to which it is connected or disconnected intermittentlyby a suitable clutch.

After the ram is driven by this mechanism for effecting the work stroke,the fly wheel and mechanism are then declutched and it becomes necessaryto arrest movement of all these heavy working parts when the ram hasbeen returned to its starting position. This has heretofore beenaccomplished by brake mechanism usually operatively connected to theintermittently operated rotary driving mechanism of the machine.

In machines of this character, all of the moving parts and mechanism areextremely heavy, with the result that when the static inertia thereof isovercome and they are in motion, considerable kinetic energy is presenttherein.

The brake is necessarily subjected to severe stresses and wear inabsorbing the kinetic energy of the moving parts of the machine, and,consequently, not only is wasted but also has detrimental effects.

Again, in prior machines of this character, air compressors have beenused for providing pneumatic pressure for operating the brake and clutchmechanism, these compressors being driven directly from the same sourceof power as the rotating mechanism itself, thus requiring power inaddition to that required by the machine.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to reduce thestresses and wear on the brake and other working parts occasioned bythis kinetic energy, and, at the same time, effectively I to utilize thekinetic energy which has heretofore been Wasted and to convert thisenergy into useful work.

Furthermore, in machines of this character, the gears of theintermittent rotary mechanism are subjected to backlast due to the samekinetic energy of the parts when the brake is applied, and a morespecific object is to reduce or eliminate this backlash by convertingthe energy into useful Work rather than in dissipating the energy asuseless heat or detrimental wear.

Another object is to convert the kinetic energy of the moving parts intouseful fluid pressure and 5 to utiliz this fluid pressure as the sourceof power for operating the clutching and braking mechanism,respectively.

Another object of the present invention is to yieldably resist thereturn of the ram to starting position by fluid pressure until theinstant before the ram reaches starting position and thereupon releasethe fluid pressure as the ram moves into starting position.

It is understood that at the initial installation, or after a longdisuse, such machines need compressed air to operate the clutch forstarting. However, any low pressure air from a shop line or from aportable tank may be used for this purpose. After a few strokes of theoperation of the forging machine or the like, equipped with myinvention, sufficient air pressure will be built up in its own systemfor continued operation.

Further objects will become apparent from the following descriptionwhich relates to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of a large horizontal forging machine withthe present invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on aplane indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line indicated at 4-4 of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a vertical press or forging machine with thepneumatic counterbalance and compressor attached thereto.

Figs. 6 and '7 are fragmentary sectional views through the compressorunit of Fig. 5, showing different positions occupied by the piston andother operating parts.

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the compressor mounted on the machine shown inFig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a top plan of the compressor of Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a horizontal forging machine is shown ashaving a frame indicated at I, carrying a fly wheel 3 adapted to beintermittently and drivingly connected with a countershaft 8 by means ofa pneumatically operated clutch designated 6. On the shaft 8 is adriving pinion 9 meshing with a gear II] which is rigid with the maincrank shaft l2, and which in line with the header slide.

in turn imparts reciprocating motion, as through a connecting rod Hi, tothe header slide or ram l5 carrying suitable forming dies indicated atH.

The compressor unit is shown comprising a cylinder 20 which is mountedon the frame I as by means of bolts and preferably in a position Thecylinder may be open at the inner end and closed at the other end by ahead 22, shown as secured to ,the cylinder by means of bolts 23.

Fitted in the cylinder is a piston carrying a suitable expanding packingskirt 2B which serves to prevent the air passing the piston during thecompression stroke. The piston is shown operatively connected to theheader slide by a connecting rod 28 preferably adjustably attached to aforked member 30 embracing the ends of a bearing pin 3| extendingthrough bosses 32 on the header slide l5. The connecting rod 28 and thefork 351 preferably lie in a horizontal plane which is substantiallyparallel .to the line of motion of the header slide I 5.

The intermittently driven rotating and reciprocating parts of themachine include the countershaft 8, pinion 9, main gear l0, crank shaftl 2, connecting rod !9 and the header slide or ram i5. These parts, whenin motion, produce a considerable amount of kinetic energy, especiallythe main gear Hi.

In machines prior to my invention, the inertia or kinetic energy ofthese parts was dissipated by a brake mechanism which was applied duringthe return stroke of the header slide to stop these parts when theheader slide 15 reached a predetermined position. As stated above, insuch instances, the energy of these intermittently operated rotating andreciprocating parts is dissipated in detrimental wear, heat and shock.

By the use of the present invention, however, some of the stress andwear on the brake mechanism is relieved by absorbing a portion of thekinetic energy of the moving, intermittently operated parts through apneumatic compressor which transforms this portion of the kinetic energyinto compressed air for use in operating the clutch and brake of theforging machine or any other pneumatic device.

During the working stroke of the header slide [5 and dies, the piston 25is moved toward the open end of the cylinder 20 and draws a charge ofair into the cylinder through an intake check valve, indicated at 35. Onthe return stroke, the intake check valve is closed and the air forcedthrough an exhaust port and a discharge check valve 36 into an air line38 which leads to an air storage tank 48.

From the storage tank, the air is conducted through an air line 4| and apressure regulating valve 42 for maintaining a uniform pressure in anoperating reservoir 43. Suitable pressure gauges 44 and 45 are providedfor gauging the pressure in the tank 40 and reservoir 43, respectively.

The compressor may be designed to maintain any desired pressure of airin the storage tank, for example, 150 pounds per square inch. This ispreferably accomplished by providing a predetermined clearance volumebetween the cylinder head 2?. and the piston 25. Ordinarily, when thepiston reaches the end ofthe compression stroke, the air in the cylinderis delivered through the valve 36 to the reservoir 40. When, however,the pressure in the reservoir becomes increased to a predeterminedamount, the maximum pressure developed in the cylinder 20 issubstantially nate the back lash in the gears.

balance functions to resist the motion of the slide balanced by thepressure on the opposite side of the discharge check valve 36. On thenext working stroke when the piston 25 would normally draw a charge ofair into the cylinder through the intake check valve, the compressed airin the clearance volume is allowed to expand to atmospheric pressure.Thus, no more air is taken into or ejected from the cylinder, so long asthe air in the reservoir 40 remains at proper pressure, which precludesthe necessity of a safety valve in the system.

In Fig. 5, a forging machine or press having vertically reciprocatingparts is shown in conjunction with a pneumatic counterbalancing and aircompressing means associated with the reciprocating parts which isdesigned to prevent back lash in the driving gears. Such machines haveheretofore been provided with substantially constant pressure pneumaticcounterbalancing de vices adapted to act in both directions of motion ofthe reciprocating parts. These prior devices include a cylinder andpiston arrangement associated with a substantially constant pneumaticpressure acting on one face of the piston from a surge tank or other airpressure source and urging the slide upwardly only. In such machinesthere exists considerable back lash between the teeth of the gearsduring the operating cycle as there is no pneumatic opposition to therotating and reciprocating parts as the slide moves upwardly, andconsequently the teeth of the driven gear are not held in pressureengagement with the teeth of the driving gear as the slide is brought torest.

By providing a head or cover with an air intake port over the open endof such a pneumatic counterbalancing device so that the pistoncompresses air on the up-stroke of the slide, I elimi- The counterin thedown direction and the compressor acts to resist the upward movement ofthe slide. Thus the teeth of the gears are held in pressure engagementduring the entire operating cycle.

A frame for such a machine is indicated at 59 and is shown carrying acomposite fly wheel driving member 52, and a pneumatically operatedclutch assembly 54 mounted for rotation on one end of a countershaft 55.A pinion 51 rigid with the countershaft 55 engages a gear 59 mounted ona crank shaft 60. Embracing the eccentric portion of the crank shaft isaconnecting rod which is secured to a heavy slide member 65. As the crankshaft revolves, vertical reciprocating motion is imparted to the slide.

As above indicated, in machines having heavy vertical reciprocatingmembers, provision is usually made for counterbalancing the weight ofthese members. I have shown such a mechanism including a forked member10, suitably pinned as at H to one end of the slide 65, and adjustablysecured at the other end to a piston rod 12 rigidly connected with apiston 13, in a cylinder 14 mounted on the top of the frame 50, as shownin Fig. 5. For counterbalancing, the lower end of the cylinder isconnected to a surge tank by means of a conduit 15. This counterbalancemechanism may be readily adapted for the purposes of this invention byproviding in the cylinder 14 an intake port 16, and by closing the upperend of the cylinder with a suitable head 11. A poppet valve 18, seatedby a light spring 80, admits air to the cylinder 14 as the piston islowered. A check valve 19 is also connected to the cylinder anddischarges through a conduit leading to a storage tank, similar to tank40 above described, when the air in the cylinder is compressed to apredetermined pressure. Thus, as the piston is raised by the slide 65,air is compressed and delivered to a storage reservoir until the pistonhas approached closely the end of its stroke.

It will be understood that the pneumatic counterbalance is effective asthe piston moves downwardly, which holds the meshing gear teeth inpressure engagement in the work driving direction. On the up-stroke,however, the magnitude of this counterbalancing force graduallydecreases, due to the pressure being built up on the upper face of thepiston causing resistance to the upward movement of the slide. Thisresistance holds the gear teeth in pressure engagement and prevents backlash.

In order to insure substantially the same resistance to return movementof the ram on each stroke, the poppet valve 18 is arranged to be openedmechanically by the ram the instant before the ram arrives at itsstarting position. The means employed for this purpose may comprise apush rod 35, the upper end of which is adapted to engage the free endportion 82 of the poppet valve stem. To move the push rod the head ofthe forked member 10 has an abutment member in the form of an adjustablestud 86 which is brought against the lower end of the push rod when theforked member on the upward stroke of the ram is moved to the positionshown in Fig. '7.

- The pressure-releasing mechanism just described governs a residualpressure in the compressor which otherwise could vary due to leakagewith each cycle of operation according to the time interval betweensuccessive operations.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided aunique combination of a pneumatic counter-balance and air compressor formachines having heavy reciprocating parts and having pneumaticallyoperated controls.

While a limited application of the present invention is disclosed, itmay become apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications andother adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit andscope as defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. In a forging machine having a heavy intermittently operatedmechanism, said mechanism including a crank shaft, a reciprocating ramconnected to the shaft so that the ram is reciprocated thereby in onedirection for effecting a forming operation and in the oppositedirection to return the ram to starting position, a main gear carried bythe crank shaft, a primary rotary member, gear means operativelyinterposed between said main gear member and the rotary member, apneumatic means operatively connected to the ram and yieldably opposingmovement of the ram on the return stroke, and valve means associatedwith the pneumatic means and controlled by the ram for releasingpressure in the pneumatic means at the instant before the ram isreturned to starting position.

2. In a forging machine of the stop-motion type comprising a poweroperated, continuously driven, rotary inertia member, a rotary drivenmechanism including a train of gears, a clutch for selectivelyconnecting and disconnecting the rotary driven mechanism at one end ofthe train to and from the inertia member, respectively, a reciprocableram slide, a crank at the other end of said train operatively connectingthe rotary driven mechanism to the ram slide for positively driving theram slide on a work stroke and a return stroke consequent upon rotationof the rotary driven mechanism, a brake for reducing the momentum of therotary driven mechanism when the rotary driven mechanism is disconnectedfrom the inertia member and for stopping the rotary driven mechanism,said brake being applicable to the rotary driven mechanism adjacent saidone end of the train, a fluid compressor mechanism connected to the ramslide for operation thereby to compress fluid when the ram slide moveson its return stroke and thereby to resist 'yieldably the return of theram slide, whereby the momentum of the ram slide and the momentum of therotary driven mechanism may be concurrently and individually reduced forpreventing back lash of the train of gears and for relieving the brakemechanism from absorbing heavy inertia stresses occasioned by themomentum of the ram slide and the rotary driven mechanism.

3. In a forging machine of the stop-motion type comprising a poweroperated continuously driven rotary inertia member, a rotary drivenmechanism including a series of meshing gears, a clutch for selectivelyconnecting and disconnecting the rotary driven mechanism at one end ofthe series of gears to and from the inertia member respectively, areciprocable ram slide and crank at the opposite end of the series ofgears, said crank connecting the rotary driven mechanism and the ramslide for positively driving the slide on a work stroke and a returnstroke consequent upon rotation of the rotary driven mechanism, a brakefor reducing the momentum of the rotary driven mechanism when the rotarydriven mechanism is disconnected from the inertia member and forstopping the rotary driven mechanism, said brake being applicable to therotary driven mechanism adjacent said one end of the series of gears,means connected to the ram slide independently of the rotary drivenmechanism and operative to yieldably resist return movement of the ramslide, whereby the momentum of the ram slide and the momentum of therotary driven mechanism may be concurrently and individually reduced forpreventing back lash of the series of gears and for relieving the brakemechanism from absorbing heavy inertia stresses occasioned by themomentum of the ram slide and the rotary driven mechanism.

4. In a forging machine of the stop-motion type comprising a poweroperated continuously driven rotary inertia member, a rotary drivenmechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a clutch for operativelyconnecting and disconnecting said shaft and the inertia member, a pinionon said shaft, a driven gear meshing with the pinion, a ram slide havinga predetermined initial starting position, means connecting the ramslide and the driven gear for positively reciprocating the ram on a workand return stroke consequent upon rotation of said pinion and gear, acompressor mechanism directly connected to the slide independently ofthe pinion and gear, and operated by the slide to compress air andresist movement of the slide on its return stroke, a brake for applyingbraking resistance to the shaft for reducing the momentum of andstopping the rotary driven mechanism and shaft as the ram approaches thepredetermined initial position on its return stroke.

WILLIAM W. CRILEY.

